Summer is finally here and there is still some modelling being shared.

Dom’s Photo plank is finished and looks superb.

Having trialled the recently cut field look on the plank, Dom has started the landscaping of the area in front of the headshunt on Coombe Town. The idea is to use a similar field look and an open fence to give an open country feel, whilst not blocking the view of the trains much further.

This is the state of play for Allan’s latest 7mm scale coach. Another Sidelines brass kit, this lovely example is a double-window all-panelled brake third.

This is the smart looking home of Wellsey – a 7mm scale model set in Edwardian times and based on the railways that served Wells, The cabin was built in around 2008. Originally it had cantilevered wooden decking outside, but this had rotted and has been removed. Running repairs have been made to the base of the cabin prior to some paving being laid and steps provided. This required some ingenuity as the exact cladding profile used originally is not available off the shelf.

Instead Dave sourced some hand machined and shaped Larch from Devon Sawmills near Taunton. It is a bit rougher finish than the original, but about four times as dense even though it is properly seasoned. He could just about pick up and move one of the 6m pieces on his own, so he repurposed an old car jack to hold it in place while he screwed it on. Dave claims that the original timber is Transylvanian Balsa and is guaranteed to live forever – at least that’s what the tall pale salesman told him as he melted into the twilight.

This is the current state of the railway inside – not much has changed in the last four years because of life’s little challenges. There is a bit more stock now, and (most importantly!) he can run trains round and round. He has painted the track on one board ready for ballasting, and installed one of the superb S4 Society lever frames to work the East Somerset yard so that’s some progress. Which reminds your editor that he has more ballast to make both for Dave and Evercreech New.